NZXT is back at it again, this time around with their new NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL keyboard. Boasting NZXT Magnetic Switches, per-key RGB lighting and a handful of other great features to further enrich your PC gaming experience, all for $199.99. Coming in either matte white or matte black (mine being the latter), the Function Elite MiniTKL is sure to turn heads as soon as you plug it in.
As soon as I opened the box, I was instantly blown away at the build quality of the Function Elite MiniTKL keyboard. The bottom is made of rigid and sturdy plastic, while the upper half of the keyboard base is made of hefty aluminum. Seriously, it feels heavy enough that it will damage something or hurt if dropped wrong. Further adding to the quality feel, NZXT has included a braided USB C cable to power the keyboard that ensures your setup not only looks its best but will endure years of gameplay. The keycaps are made of a double-shot PBT that not only feels great when pressed but won’t fade after years of usage as well.
Unlike a wide range of gaming keyboards on the market, NZXT has built-in magnetic switches into the Function Elite MiniTKL instead of the more common mechanical or membrane-style switches. In use, the keys had a satisfying and pleasant actuation that wasn’t too loud nor too quiet. They also were very smooth and stabilized, therefore ensuring further accuracy when typing or gaming. Gamers can further tune their key actuation force from 0.6 to 4.0mm of key travel to adjust just how much pressure they want each key to need for each action in game.
“Unlike a wide range of gaming keyboards on the market, NZXT has built-in magnetic switches into the Function Elite MiniTKL instead of the more common mechanical or membrane-style switches.”
Also nearly infinitely adjustable is the per-key RGB lighting and light ring around the keyboard. This can be especially handy in games with numerous keys to remember, as you can colour code each category of commands, such as movement, weapon selection, vehicle functions, etc. While I generally prefer more subtle and mellow RGB themes, the sky is the limit to how you choose to customize your setup.
To further enhance and improve your gaming experience, the company has built in an 8K Polling rate to the NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL keyboard, thus ensuring your time gaming has nearly no latency between keystrokes and giving you near-instant actions when gaming or faster typing times on screen. NZXT has also incorporated Rapid Trigger resets, allowing users to repeatedly press keys without having to wait for the keys to reset to their top position, something rapid-fire shooter gamers will certainly appreciate.
“…the company has built in an 8K Polling rate to the NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL keyboard…”
In my time of typing and gaming with the NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL keyboard, I found it very comfortable to use for longer gaming sessions or even while typing up emails and documents. I found myself actually enjoying the sounds of the keystrokes, something I don’t often find when typing on keyboards as I generally prefer quieter typing sessions, similar to what I find on my laptops. The extra weight of the keyboard also prevented it from slipping on different surfaces, something lighter keyboards occasionally would struggle with.
Overall, the Function Elite MiniTKL by NZXT is a great new compact gaming keyboard that aims to add a premium look and feel to your gaming experience while delivering all the features and more that you would come to expect. While it certainly comes at a premium cost, if you can afford to offer up the cash, this is a great keyboard worth checking out.
- NZXT MAGNETIC SWITCHES — Hall effect sensors, powerful magnets, and fine-tuned firmware precisely track every keystroke, unlocking advanced ways to customize how you game and type
- ADJUSTABLE ACTUATION — Configure per-key sensitivity across 40 points within a 0.6 to 4.0 mm switch travel range—from light taps to deep presses—to suit your style
